Sky High Moments – A Family Afternoon on Mount Scott

There’s something about a mountain that calls you to it—quietly, persistently. Not with noise, but with presence. With promise. With that sacred whisper: “Come see.”

Golden hour on the mountain. The kind of light that makes you pause and say, “Let’s stay a little longer.”

On a windy, Thursday afternoon, we answered the call.

We packed the car with our usual chaos—snacks, water bottles, a favorite stuffed animal or two—and made our way toward Mount Scott, nestled in the heart of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in southwest Oklahoma.

The drive itself is its own kind of magic. Roads curve through tall grass and wildflowers, past longhorns grazing freely and herds of bison ambling through the hills like living echoes of another time. As you rise higher and higher, the land begins to open up below you—green valleys, scattered lakes, and sky that stretches without end.

A Glimpse into the Past

Mount Scott rises about 2,464 feet above sea level and is one of the tallest peaks in the Wichita Mountains. These ancient granite mountains are some of the oldest in North America—formed over 500 million years ago. Once sacred to Indigenous peoples of the Plains, including the Comanche and Kiowa tribes, this land holds deep roots and ancient stories.

The world stretched out before us—green and wild and full of wonder. The kids climbed like it was their kingdom.

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, where Mount Scott sits, was established in 1901 and remains one of the oldest managed wildlife preserves in the United States. It’s home to free-range bison, Texas longhorn cattle, elk, prairie dogs, and more—living wild on land where they once roamed freely before the fencing and roads came.

Climbing Together

When we reached the top, we parked and stepped out into the wind. You could feel it immediately—how still and loud the world becomes up there. The sun was gentle, the sky dramatic with cotton clouds, and all around us: red rock, weather-worn and wise, rising out of the green.

The kids took off climbing boulders, their laughter chasing birds into the air. We followed slowly, soaking it in—the way our feet slipped over dusty rock, how our shadows stretched out long behind us.

At one point, we all stood on the same high rock, together in the silence, a little out of breath from the scramble. We looked out over it all—miles and miles of wide-open Oklahoma, where the hills met the clouds and the land whispered back.

It was one of those rare, slow-burning moments. The kind that doesn’t shout “remember me!” but lingers quietly in the corners of your heart.

Her first mountain, pressed close to my heart. The wind in our hair, the sky in her eyes. A soft and sacred kind of moment.

A Baby’s First Mountain

Tucked into my wrap was our littlest one—bright eyes peeking out at the light, lips pursed in thought, the wind tousling the fine wisps of her hair. This was her first trip to the top. Her first mountain. Her first view from above.

I kissed her cheek, breathed her in, and wished I could bottle it up. The sky, the wind, the weight of her leaning into me. A mountaintop moment in every way.

Before We Headed Down

We snapped a photo on the rocks, shared water and a few squished snacks, and let our hearts rest for a while. Eventually, the sun shifted, and the shadows stretched long. It was time to go—but none of us wanted to rush.

There’s something about the mountains that slows you down. That reminds you to breathe, to listen, to see each other again after a week of chores and screens and schedules.

We left lighter than we came.

Nick and the kids, side by side, standing where the wind hums and the sky feels close enough to touch. A mountaintop memory we’ll carry with us.

Want to Visit Mount Scott?

Mount Scott is open year-round, with a paved road that takes you almost all the way to the summit. It’s located within the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, just outside of Lawton, OK. There are plenty of scenic overlooks, picnic spots, and hiking trails to explore—even with little ones in tow.

Learn more here or plan your visit here!

Here is a free June Calendar printable to help you plan out your fun summer trips with your family!

Click Here to Download!

Until next time,

May your days be full of blue skies, quiet wonders, and the kind of moments that make you stop and smile.

Thanks for walking this path with us.

Stay Radiant, friends,

Ashlee from Radiant Farmstead

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A Note to Our Readers

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